The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1887-11-15
FARMS AND FARMERS.
Short Talks With the Men Who
Guide the PloW.
QUESTIONS ON FARM TOPICS
Waste From the BARNARD,

management some manurial matter is unayoid
ably carried off by rains from the barnyard.
Though animals be kept in stalls there is al
ways some waste about the lot, some drop-
pings, some wasteage in cleaning out the stalls.
some scattered provender is generally present.
In short, a barnyard is never very clean
place, and here want of cleanliness means ma
nure. Where animals are confined in omen
aots the loss of manure matter is obviously
much greater, and still the problem how to
save it becomes very important. If the lot is
Bloping the manure-laden water runs down
hill, finding its way into some gulley or hollow
and thence into streams, and it is lost. But is
there necessity; cannot the water
be checked and made to de-
posit its treasures on Its way? The
most obvious arrangement to bring this to
pass, is to have grass or grain patch immedi-
ately below the lot and have the water flow
over it. This arrangement is often SEEM but
Is generally defective in two important points:
the water is allowed to choose its own path
and is usually concentrated on very limited
portion OF the patch; the other, no contriy-
ances are present to check the velocity of the
water and allow the soil to get its valuable
contents. The first may be obviated by build
ing low dam at bottom of lot, the top of the
dam to be level SO the water will not run over
at one place, but along its whole length in
thin continuous sheet, or else openings made
In the dam, and the water discharged first at
one point and then another. By such contri-
vances every portion of the patch would get
some OF the fertilZing water.
But one point would still remain
unguarded there is nothing to check the We
aocity of the water and it might run over the
land so rapidly as to leave little of its minurial
elments behind This may be met by terrace
ing the lot. In such case it would be we'll to
complete the terracing at once, using hillside
pillow, run often enough to bring the surface of
each strip to level. This done, the water
from above would tarry long upon the land
A goodly portion would be absorbed and all
solid matter would be deposited. Comparative
ly little would escape if the slope had any
length. We commend this plan to the reader.
1t is simple and inexpensive. 1t will supply
q large amount of forage or of grazing at the
most convenient point. 1t will not detract
anything from the compost heap, for all which
would thus be saved, is now practically lost
1T is a leakage only that we propose to stop;
nothing more
But suppose the barnyard is so located that
asgrass grain patch cannot be had below it,
In that event the DRAWINGS from the yard can
be conveyed in ditch to some point at dis
lot located there. The water from q ditch
discharged little distance above horizontal
dam will spread out and flow over the latter
In broad continuous sheet down to lot below
In this case a second ditch, just above that
from the yard, must be provided to prevent
rain water other than that from the yard get
ting into the yard ditch, and the grass lot
likewise must be protected from water flowing
down the slope above it. A little planning
will meet the requirements of each individual
case. Rich grazing or soilng lot are of inesti-
mable value on the farm, especially in the
early spring, when animals crave green food
The above is cheap, simple plan providing
then.
But one is not limited to such lots as de-
scribed above 1t is well to have those kinds
and those who do not would do we'll to plan
and arrange for them at once In their alb
sence, however, select nice, clean, rich piece
of land, at most convenient place on the farm,
and SOW it down at once in rye. Don't say it
is too late. You can make up for that by ma
nuring, just as you can push up pig by high
feeding, and make him weigh 200 pounds
when ten months old, so you can cause rye
patch to spring forward towards the close of
winter, by feeding it we'll Give it 800 pounds
of cotton seed meal to the acre; 100 pounds
each Oh d. lIiOopl.t.tC thtS0 Will
supply its wants steadily and continually dur
ing its whole period of growth. In addition,
give it 100 pounds, either Of nitrate of soda, or
gulphate of ammonia for its immediate use.
These will act more promptly viii
make the rye grow off quickly even in pretty
cold weather. They are very soluble substances
and plants can get them and use them just as
soon as they are placed in damp soil. Sow
two bushels of seed to the acre-the plants
won't have time to stool much-so provide a
plenty of plants at once. Towards the end of
February, if your rye is not growing fast
enough to suit you, give it a top dressing of 10
pounds of nitrate OF soda to the acre. Don't
craze. but cut and feed to stock Cut as
soon rs stems begin to form-before ii gets into
"boot' Stock will eat it better if cut young,
and better second growth will spring up,
than if cut when older. No forage plant de-
teriorates more rapidly when it gets old than
rye does. W. l.. j.
One of the professors of a New York university
remarks upon the distaste of American youth for
"a ming as follows:
farming. The machine shop as you sec, fourisbes;
1t is scene of absorbing interest every day All
other shops and laboratories attract attention
or ltss and every kind of study pursued here has
ats voares. But when it comes to tilling the farm
. age will not hoe corn if he help it, A good
many of our students have been brought up on
farms They have hoed corn and driven cows from
their seventh year. They nave done all that kind
of work they ever mean 10 do unless compelled by
memorable necessity.
And the American youth is quite right in wishing
TO escape dudgery. In these days of improved
machinery there is no excuse for the degrading
drudgery which low exists too many farms.
Boys like to work with machinery, and certainly
the farm affords plenty Of opportunities for me-
chanical skill. In fact the tune is coming, if it has
not already arrived. when, in order TO be success
ful farmer man must be fair machinist When
the willing forces of nature stand<eady and willing
TO do mans bidding, why should any one be
drudge? A farm well supplied with go)d imple-
uents and machinery is not the one the boys run
away fom. 1t is the one where the eight hour sys-
TEN is Iractced-eight before dinner and
eight atter-where the ground is stirred by
poor plows and The work that is not done by hand
IL half done b. makeshilts. What sort of incen-
tative is such life to q 10y with ambitious inn
pulses and healthy, earnest desire 10 make the
most of himself? There is no reason why farmer
should make a horse Of himself nor take the place
of machine that has no brains to worry.
The above from an exchange isvery pointed
and suggestive.